Mission Woes

[Lukas316]

I've completed First Strike, and I'm doing a few side missions to build cash and experience to refit the Argo, get better mechs and train up my lance. However it seems that every mission I've taken so far since First Strike has me facing at least 2 lances - one an assassination mission and the other to retrieve biological samples from a facility. I also did a mission where I had to babysit 3 rookie pilots (hence I could send only one mech on the mission) and in the midst of fighting the enemy lance another lance of 4 mechs dropped in and it became a 3-way fight.
I won these (not the babysitting one) but my mechs and pilots take a pounding and I'm facing some serious downtime. I can ameliorate this by taking a contract to another system, but I'm wondering if there's a better way to do this.
Firstly, are all missions like this - you have to fight 2 lances?
Secondly how should I set up my lance at mission start? I find the best success comes when I can sensor lock an enemy out of his detection range then pound the snot out of him with long range weaponry and missiles, but I've also screwed up and inadvertently activated the second enemy lance, where my mechs spend many days getting repaired and my crew in the med bay.

 

[MarkDey]

Typically, yes - in most missions you will fight 2 or more lances. In most cases, you can face them separately instead of all at once. Your long range plan seems like a good one.

 

[Lukas316]

Thanks. I'm wondering what could be possible strategies. Right now I have a heavy (Marauder) as a tank, a Centurion fitted out with 2 LRM-15s, a Shadowhawk and a Griffin that is used for scouting.

 

[Hobbes__]

Thanks. I'm wondering what could be possible strategies. Right now I have a heavy (Marauder) as a tank, a Centurion fitted out with 2 LRM-15s, a Shadowhawk and a Griffin that is used for scouting.

Above all learn the engagement ranges of the weapons your 'Mechs are carrying.

That will make a major difference in your playing skills because you'll learn how maximize your firepower and chance to hit enemy targets.

 

[Spartakus]

Learning how Initiative works will improve your game like nothing else. Precision strike isn't good because it targets a specific zone (your pilots need some tactics skill to make good use of it anyway) but it's amazing because it denies your opponents to move first.
I regularly use it with a single ML from my Firestarter.
It moves the target mech into the next phase meaning all my mechs of the same weight class can shoot it again next turn befor it can reposition or regain evasion.

 

[Doctor Machete]

Precision strike isn't good because it targets a specific zone (your pilots need some tactics skill to make good use of it anyway) but it's amazing because it denies your opponents to move first.
I regularly use it with a single ML from my Firestarter.
It moves the target mech into the next phase meaning all my mechs of the same weight class can shoot it again next turn befor it can reposition or regain evasion.

Precision Shot is good precisely because it targets a specific area with a bonus. That is the main advantage. Also grants you a base bonus to hit the mech, and then it pushes the opponent one init phase. It is an OP skill even when you can't push the target one init phase down, like fighting assaults against assaults. It makes your shots a lot more deadly and efficient.

 

[Kereminde]

Firstly, are all missions like this - you have to fight 2 lances?

Nope.

Sometimes you have to fight three.

 

[Doctor Machete]

Nope.

Sometimes you have to fight three.

Sometimes four or five.

 

[Kereminde]

Sometimes four or five.

"But we'll get paid for it, right? ... right? Friggin' Capellans..."

 

[Doctor Machete]

"But we'll get paid for it, right? ... right? Friggin' Capellans..."

No, you don't. You get paid for doing something else, the killing part is pro bono.